Guidance notes

MISSILE WEAPONS -BOWS AND CROSSBOWS

Part 1 Training and Supervision

Introduction

It has always been recognised that bows and crossbows are potentially lethal weapons, and that of all the weapons on the field they are most likely to injure members of the public by virtue of their intrinsic characteristics. The following guidelines are designed to minimise the risk posed by such weapons to all, by promoting what is current best practice.

Please note that the Guidance notes relating to Combat and Drill Rules, Disciplinary Action, Accident Records, Equipment storage and transport and the Review Process, in the NAReS Drill and Training Guidelines, are as relevant to missile weapons as to other weapons.  The following guidelines are designed specifically for bows and crossbows.

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EQUESTRIAN

Definitions

The term “group” is used here to mean any group, society or association.
“Unit Commander” refers to the person responsible for and in charge of a formed body of mounted personnel. It also refers to whoever is put in charge of an unformed (for instance a living history scenario) body of mounted personnel.
“Equitation Organiser” means the person responsible to the group organising committee for the organisation and safety of horses at an event (May be called the Cavalry Co-ordinator or Master of Horse).
“Drill” refers to manoeuvres executed at the event as practiced in the period being re-created.

Group Responsibilities

The Group is responsible for all re-enactors taking part in an event in which the Group is the co-ordinating body. They are treated under current legislation as unpaid employees or voluntary workers. At such an event this means that the Group is responsible for all personnel acting on its behalf within the notified specified boundaries of the event, whether on the field, or elsewhere. This has repercussions on insurance, accreditation and safety procedures; in that all the re-enactors taking part must be placed under Group control and must adhere to these safety and accreditation procedures.

Commanders Responsibilities

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Annexes

Annexes 1 to 7 are word documents, so you can edit them as required. Annexes 8 and 9 are pdf files. Please click on the annex to view it.

1. Equestrian Risk Assessment Form Part 1
2. Equestrian Risk Assessment Form Part 2
3. Daily Risk Assessment Report Form
4. Order Form for the Supply of Horses
5. Contract of Horse Hire
6. Equestrian Incident Report Form
7. To Make a Horse Screen
8. Frequently Asked Questions – A Guide
9. Animal Welfare Regulations 2018

FIREARMS TRANSPORTATION

When firearms are being carried in a vehicle, to or from an event, the following points should be considered. Remember that under the Firearms Rules 1998 the licence holder is responsible for ensuring that the firearm is stored securely so as to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, unauthorised access.

• Any firearm should be hidden out of sight, ideally in the boot of the car. If the transport of firearms takes place on a regular basis, then consideration should be given to fitting an alarm and/or immobiliser if they have not already been fitted.
• Vehicles should not be left unattended for any length of time. If you do have to, then try and park the vehicle in a way that would frustrate efforts to gain access (e.g. with the boot against a wall or, if a number of vehicles are travelling together, box the car in so the doors and boot are obstructed).
• If the firearms can be broken down into component parts (e.g. the bolt removed from a rifle, or the fore end from a shotgun removed) then they can be stored elsewhere in the vehicle, preferably in a locked box
• Any ammunition or powder should be stored separately from the firearm, and the same considerations given as above.
• Consider using portable security devices, such as security cords.
• In order to not arouse suspicion when loading or unloading your vehicle, the firearm should be concealed preferably in a commercial bag, but at the very least by wrapping in a blanket.

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REPLICA IMITATION FIREARMS ('RIFS')

Introduction
The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the 2006 Act’) received royal assent in October 2006. The principle sections of the 2006 Act that this guidance note is concerned with are 36 to 38; these sections contain provisions dealing with RIFs. In essence the 2006 Act makes it an offence to manufacture, import or sell RIFs, however historical re-enactment does have a defence.

What do we mean by a ‘replica imitation firearm’?
Section 38 of the 2006 Act defines a "realistic imitation firearm" as an imitation firearm which has an appearance that is so realistic as to make it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a real firearm.
"Imitation firearm" is also defined in section 57(4) of the Firearms 1968 as "any thing which has the appearance of being a firearm...whether or not it is capable of discharging any shot, bullet or other missile".
The term "real firearm" is defined in section 38(7) of the 2006 Act as either a firearm of an actual make or model of a modern firearm, or a generic modern firearm.
The term "modern firearm" is defined in section 38(8) of the 2006 Act as a firearm other than one whose appearance would tend to identify it as having a design and mechanism of a sort first dating before 1870. The effect of this definition is that realistic imitations of pre-1870 firearms are not caught by the new offence. Deactivated firearms and antique imitations (such as old dummy rifles used for drill practice) are expressly excluded from the definition of realistic imitation firearm and are therefore not affected by the new offence either.

What are the offences?

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MISSILE WEAPONS -TREBUCHETS

Introduction

Trebuchets by virtue of their size and purpose, whether traction or counterweight machines, are intrinsically dangerous. The following guidelines are designed to minimise the risk posed by such weapons to all, by promoting what is current best practice.

Please note that the Guidance notes relating to Combat and Drill Rules, Disciplinary Action, Accident Records, Equipment storage and transport and the Review Process, in the NAReS Drill and Training Guidelines, are as relevant to trebuchets as to other weapons. The following guidelines are designed specifically for trebuchets.

The following notes are based upon experience of manning, captaining and shooting trebuchets ranging from a 16ft high 1ton model to a 60ft 20 ton full-scale example. The smaller example has been shot on seventeen separate occasions at or from nine castles in the context of sieges.

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VINTAGE AND HISTORIC VEHICLES GUIDANCE

Mandatory Requirement
ALL vehicles MUST comply with the requirements of the Law and the Highway Code where applicable.

The Best Practice Guideline
This will apply at any re-enactment, display, performance, show, or other event at which member societies of NAReS are appearing, whether or not that society is involved with the organisation of such an event. It is intended to safeguard both NAReS Member societies and the public from injury and danger. These guidelines as with any NAReS guidance notes are recommendations only. Members Societies are welcome follow their own documented guidance safety notices. It is recommended that any member society deviating from this guidance note produces a documented Vehicle guidance safety procedure

Vehicle Condition
Vehicles used at historical re-enactments are by their nature generally not modern day vehicles. In some instances vehicles may be up to 80 years old or even older. Therefore it is the duty of the NAReS groups to ensure that their own members (+guests) using such vehicles at events, have ensured that their vehicles are maintained in a safe and roadworthy condition at all times.

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ARMS & ARMOUR

Definitions

A re-enactment is a physical representation, or reconstruction, of historical events. It may take the form of either military or non-military activities. A battle re-enactment shall be a representation, or reconstruction of an historical form of combat.
An edged weapon is one that is designed to have a cutting edge, or point, or is capable of such an edge or point being put upon it (i.e. sharpening a rebated weapon), or had such an edge or point in its original historical model.
A blunt force weapon is one that is not designed to have a cutting edge or point, and was not designed so in its original historical model. Together, these types of weapon when hand held in use are known as melee weapons. More detailed definitions are to be found on page 4, under the term "melee weapons", but they cover:
a) All hand held weapons or sidearms
b) All hand-and-a-half and two-handed weapons
c) All hafted weapons such as polearms & staves
d) All "defensive" weapons, such as shields & bucklers

Safety

Personal Safety

Persons involved in re-enactment must be made aware of the risks and possible dangers to health involved with this pastime. They must also accept responsibility for, and attempt to minimize, all such risks and dangers to health related to their own actions whether those risks and dangers affect themselves or others. (N.B: In some

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Guidance for Firearms and Associated Trades

First published 2020

This guidance has been developed by a sub sector working group, The Shooters and Shooting Working Group, established under the Explosives Legislative Review
 (www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/news/explosives-legislative-review.htm). 
It includes content previously found on HSE’s website and in the Approved Code of Practice to the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (L139) which was withdrawn on 1 October 2014.

This guidance is issued by the sub-sector working group.

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People are often worried about getting into deep water if they try to start a re-enactment Group and, really, it could not be easier.

Starting a Re-Enactment Group